Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Pickle Baked Chicken Tenders with Creamy Chili Honey Sauce

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Thanks to Hellmann’s 100% Recycled Plastic Bottles and the “Real Taste, Less Waste” challenge I get to share with you a kitchen hack that I have used for years! I call it a “Crumb Catcher” and I used it to create this kid approved, super easy and delicious dish - Pickle Baked Chicken Tenders with Creamy Chili Honey Sauce!
 
Here’s the deal. A Crumb Catcher is an airtight container I keep in my pantry that I fill with whatever I have at the bottom of the bag of allllll the chips, snacks and crunchy things I’m already buying. Once it’s full I dump it in a food processor and make crumbs out of the mix. Then it can be used to bread chicken, pork chops or fish, top casseroles, or in place of breadcrumbs for meatloaf or meatballs!! The options are endless when it comes to what can be used in this. Literally anything crunchy and salty would work! Here are some ideas of what usually ends up in mine: pretzels, taco shells, Goldfish, tortilla chips, potato chips, croutons, cheese crackers, rice krispies, bagel chips, corn flakes.


I know most of you have had this happen just like me. I buy a pack of taco shells but two are broken. I buy goldfish crackers and there’s only a handful left in the bag and the kids won’t eat them. You make nachos but ¼ of the bag is crumbs at the bottom. Or, every mother’s favorite, you buy a Costco size box of pretzels only for your kids to decide ¾ of the way through that they suddenly don’t like pretzels anymore. You’re already buying these snacks, so why throw ¼ of what you paid for away just because it’s broken or not enough to make a full snack or meal with?! Less food waste = budget friendly!


While we’re at it, I’m going to use the juice left in my empty pickle jar for the world’s easiest brine for chicken instead of just throwing that away! These chicken tenders are perfectly seasoned thanks to the pickle juice and stay ultra-juicy because of the Hellmann’s mayonnaise that’s holding onto all the crispy crunchy coating on the outside. Dipped in the Creamy Chili Honey Sauce and it’s a winner!

Pickle Baked Chicken Tenders with Creamy Chili Honey Sauce
2 pounds chicken (either tenders or boneless skinless breasts sliced into strips- get what’s on sale!)
2 cups pickle juice
½ cup Hellmann’s mayonnaise
2 cups Crumb Catcher mix crumbs (see notes below for suggestions)
½ cup Hellmann’s Creamy Chili Honey Sauce

Place the chicken tenders or sliced chicken breast strips in a large bowl and cover with pickle juice. Allow the mixture to marinate for a minimum of 2 hours, but preferably overnight.
When ready to cook, pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees. Drain the pickle juice off and evenly coat the chicken with the mayonnaise.
Pour the contents of the Crumb Catcher into a small food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Measure out 2 cups of this mix. If what you have isn’t enough to make 2 cups add enough plain breadcrumbs or plain panko to reach that amount.
Dredge the chicken in the crumb mixture and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Spray the tops of the chicken as well and bake for 15 minutes. Carefully flip the chicken over and continue to cook for another 15 minutes.
Serve the chicken tenders with Creamy Chili Honey Sauce for dipping.

#RealTasteLessWaste #ContestEntry #Hellmanns

Monday, March 9, 2020

Little's Lunches

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 Is anyone else dragging from the ridiculous time change like I am? We had a busy weekend and I ended up waiting to make lunches until this morning and it totally reinforced why I always make lunch boxes the night before! I am not a morning person anyway so I'm moving slower at 6am than I am in the evenings. I did not love the idea of messing up the whole kitchen and having to pull so much stuff out of the fridge in the morning. After dinner, when all the food is already out that's when I pack up what I can of the leftovers and fill in the rest with fresh fruits and veggies. What's your best time saving tip for packing lunch boxes?
 Monday:  celery and cucumber sticks, orange slices, cheddar cheese cubes and pepperoni, garlic bagel chips, ranch, roasted corn salad
 Tuesday: pepperoni, pretzel sticks, cucumber slices, orange slices, ranch, fresh mozzarella
 Wednesday: celery and carrot slices, garlic bagel chips, sliced strawberries, radish and cucumber slices, ranch, oranges
 Thursday: pretzel sticks, ham cubes, green beans, celery sticks, ranch, sliced strawberries
Friday: my daughter has 2 wiggly teeth so she requested all soft foods! applesauce, avocado cubes, cooked sliced carrots, hard boiled egg

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Mardi Gras Menu

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Do you ever find yourself sitting at home scrolling through pictures of a vacation that just passed and really wishing you could go back and do it all over again? That's what I've been doing this week missing Mardi Gras and all the food from home. So on this dreary day I' dreaming of crawfish, parades, muffulettas, daiquris and gumbo.

Today I'm posting my favorite Mardi Gras themed dishes just in case you can't make it to NOLA but still want to celebrate with a great meal!

Muffuletta Egg Rolls - a crispy crunchy shell stuffed with cheese, olives, salami, ham and olives



Chicken Andouille and Tasso Gumbo - This dish was the first recipe I ever entered into a contest and competed in and is at the top of the list of my family's favorites! If you can't find tasso feel free to use your favorite smoked sausage and I frequently sub turkey for chicken for an equally delicious version!


Cajun Fish Taco Tostadas with Mardi Gras Slaw and Remoulade Sauce   - Fish taco flavors and texture as an easy to assemble tostada- what's not to love?!




Bayou Blackened Praline Burgers with Creamy Remoulade Sauce - this one is insane y'all! Pralines, Blackening seasoning and a spicy creamy Remoulade sauce all piled on a burger? Yum!


Stuffed Artichoke Muffuletta Burgers with Fried Green Tomato Fries - I love literally everything about this dish. I adore stuffed artichokes, Muffulettas, fried green tomatoes and remoulade sauce.  Bonus points for being vegetarian too! 




Mini-letta Swirls - These easy Puff Pastry Swirls are the perfect appetizer! Provolone, prosciutto and salami all topped off with that olive salad that I love so much! 


Sweet and Spicy Coconut Shrimp Tropical Flatbread

My second entry for Sam's Fresh Salsa Blogger contest only has 8 ingredients, takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish to make an...